True Bipartisanship

Governors Ask for Inquiry on Oil Prices

New York Times. CHICAGO, Sept. 20 - "The governors of eight states sent a letter on Tuesday to President Bush and Congress calling for an investigation into profits made by oil companies after Hurricane Katrina and asking for legislation that would require the companies to refund to customers any profits deemed excess.

"When the wholesale price of gas went up by 60 cents almost overnight, oil companies were obviously using the most devastating natural disaster in our nation's history to reap a windfall at the expense of American consumers," said the letter, which was initiated by Gov. James E. Doyle of Wisconsin and was signed by governors from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.

"To price-gouge consumers under normal circumstances is dishonest enough," the letter stated, "but to make money off the severe misfortune of others is downright immoral."

The letter cited an analysis by Donald A. Nichols, an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, who reported that gas prices surged disproportionately compared with crude oil price increases. The price markup from crude oil to gasoline has almost tripled since the hurricane, the report said"

You know, it's something that only the Bush Administratin could have truly fostered. Slash and burn politics, empty promises, hollow rhetoric, raiding the treasury, strangling the middle class, bolstering only his rich supporters: and viola! You discover you've actually screwed the whole country, not just the "other side". Now, every politician will have voters with thinner wallets, less Federal protection and support in times of crisis, insufficient health care, and bad schools! So suddenly everyone circles the wagons to fight the new enemy, Empty Hearted W.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Republicans and Democrats find common ground against Bush, his family business and his supporters. Who would have thought?

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